The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1887-06-24
The Lesson Of the Flags.

The following article from the New
York Star is full of practical good sense
upon this question, that has caused so
much uncalled-for comment and criticism
The Presidents action SO far from being
open to exception deserves the highest
praise, as it exhibits the perfect candor and
sincerity ofthe man: Like great many
other neopie he feels that no good can
come from holding the valueless trophies
Of fraternal strife which, except for its
results, would have been forgotten long
ago. If the proposed brotherly feeling
and patriotic good will is sincere. why
should the order meet with opposition.-
1t provides that the flags of loyal and re-
bellious States should alike be returned
to those from whom they were captured.
That the President had no legal warrant
for his action and acted unadvisedly, was
simply mistake which he promptly and
effectualIy remedied. He displayed no
BILE motive and patriotic impulse, and
had the bravery to confess his mistake
and to forbid the execution Of his mandate.
We think the Star strikes the key note
of popular sentiment.
No sort of mystery attaches to the action Of
the President with regard to the captured re-
bel flags. The idea Of returning them was
suggested to him at the moment of his depar-
ture on pleasure trip. He approved the SEN
timent involved and, without considering the
legal aspects Of the case, lie expressed his APP
prevail. Later or, when the matter had taken
shape and was on the verge Of consummation
the President looked into the law and con-
cluded that. however sensible and patriotic
the project might be- it vas one that Congress,
not he, should pass HLon. He, therefore, in.
structed the Adiutant- General to suspend ope-
rations. Nothing could be simpler 1t is,
like everything else that Mr. Cleveland has
done since he Lecame President Of the Uni
ted States, sensible, straightforward, courage
Gus and patriotic. His impulse was 10 do the
magnanimous and graceful thing. His action
has been governed by the law.
But what 4 valuable and timely lesson the
country has derived from the episode. What
an exhibition of cheap demagogy and silly
rant has been provoked. We have been ena-
BLEED to ascertain tie extent and quality Of the
fraternal feeling that prevails as between the
sections, and to weigh to 4 nicely the sIgnifi-
canoe of the froth and fury of Individuals
The furry has elected great deal of impOr-
tant information. We have learned that
patton, first advocated the destruction of all
symbols of strife and conquest, and that lie
had for coadutors such patriots as Horace
Greeley. This, in the very heat and stress OF
that for years past northern survivors of the
war have been exchaning with their sout hern
brethren the relics of their forgotten hatred
New Y ork and Connecticut have had restor-
ed to them certain ensigns and banners taken
by the Confederates i'll fair fight. Louisiana
and Alabama have recovered from the North
similar reminders of their overflow. And
thus the brotherly work Of healing has gone
on.
Sensible men will not overlook the moral of
this recent outbreak. They will see that the
cement Of reconciliation has solidted the
masses and that the foreign particles ale moth